Get help with the Photos app on your Mac

If Photos for macOS isn't starting up or performing as expected, try these tips.

Back up your library

Before following any of these steps, it's a good idea to create a backup of your photo library, even if you use iCloud Photos. You can use Time Machine, use a third-party backup solution, or copy the library to an external drive. By default, your photo library is stored in the Pictures folder within your home folder.

Make sure that your software is up to date

Photos is part of the Mac operating system (v10.10.3 and later). You can avoid or fix many issues by running the most up-to-date version of macOS. Learn more about updating the software on your Mac.

If you have trouble migrating an existing iPhoto or Aperture library to Photos

If the Media Browser isn't showing your photos and videos

Use the Media Browser to make images from your photo library available in other apps, like Pages and iMovie. The Media Browser shows only the contents of the Photos library designated as the System Photo Library. If you have more than one Photos library—and the one you're using isn't set as the System Photo Library—the Media Browser won't show its contents.

Follow these steps to designate the current library as the System Photo Library:

Choose Photos > Preferences.

Click the General button at the top of the Preferences window.

Click Use as System Photo Library.

If you're having other issues with Photos

If you're experiencing other issues—like missing or blank photo thumbnails, unexpected behavior, or if Photos won’t open—you can repair your library using the steps below.

The Photos repair tool analyzes the library's database and repairs any inconsistencies it detects. Depending on the size of your library, this might take some time. When the process is complete, Photos opens your library.

Follow these steps to use the Photos repair tool:

Make sure that you backed up your main Photos library.

Quit Photos if it's open.

Press and hold the Option and Command keys as you open Photos again.

The Repair Library dialog appears. Click Repair, and then enter an administrator password to begin running the Photos repair tool.

If you're using iCloud Photos, your library will re-update with iCloud when you run the Photos repair tool.